Pacific island region seeks to insulate itself from global conflicts

Pacific island leaders pose for a group photo during the 54th Leaders Meeting in Honiara from Sept. 8 to 12, 2025. Photo courtesy of PIF

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

Courted by superpowers and unwittingly dragged into geopolitics, the Pacific island nations refuse to participate in global frictions, declaring the region a peace zone and free from conflict.

The Pacific Islands Forum endorsed the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration

during the 54^th PIF Leadership Meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands last week.

“The declaration promotes peace building as an integral element of Pacific regionalism, and recognizes that sustainable development is essential for addressing the root causes of conflict, fostering lasting harmony and empowering communities to thrive,” Jeremiah Manele, Forum chair, said after the five-day leaders meeting.

Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka introduced the Ocean of Peace manifesto, which he said was “a signal that we seek a region in which strategic competition is managed, where stability is the touchstone of regional relationships and where coercion is eschewed.”

Small Pacific island states have become chessboard pieces in strategic competition in the region, where the U.S. builds a network of allies to counter China’s growing influence to the detriment of Taiwan.

At the Forum meeting, leaders discussed the ongoing implications of U.S. government decisions on the region and its regional agencies.

“On the matter, the U.S. leaders had agreed to also revitalize their engagement with the U.S. on nuclear legacy issues as well as continue to work with the U.S. to ensure the payment of the U.S. Tuna Treaty annual payments to the region,” Manele said.

The threat is not limited to this part of the world.

Manele said leaders also discussed the region’s evolving security environment, noting that it is increasingly shaped by global conflicts, shifting alliances and intensifying strategic competition.

“Leaders further noted that the escalations in the Middle East have disrupted global energy markets, driving volatility that continues to impact Pacific economies,” he said.

The unpredictability of global peace prompted the Forum to seek collective sustainability.

“One recurring point of discussion throughout the course of the week was the need to step up our effort to drive sustainable economic development—moving away from individual sectoral approaches in our key economic sectors of fisheries and tourism—to a more coordinated and cohesive approach across these key sectors through deepening regional integration,” Manele said.

“Leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships and have endorsed the Leaders Policy on Partnerships for the Pacific Islands Forum,” he added.

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